A+ Savings: How to Save Big on Back-To-School Supplies

More by Kate

Vacation and school supplies and new clothes, oh my! If you’re feeling financially pinched this month, you’re not alone. In a recent Parade focus group of Walmart Moms, women said that August is the toughest time to stay on budget. According to the National Retail Federation, the average family spends more than $650 transitioning from summer to fall.

But in this economy, there’s no shame in getting thrifty: When it comes to back-to-school expenses, creativity counts! If you’re willing to buy secondhand, you can get gently used clothes at sites like Schoola.com and ThredUp .com. And borrowing rather than buying can help you save on pricier items like graphing calculators (from $9 a month at rentcalculators.org) and musical instruments (schmittmusic.com leases popular strings and horns). Amazon Prime members can even rent textbooks, in hardcover or on a Kindle.

For other expenses in the months ahead—everything from backpacks to weekend activities—there are a host of tricks for scoring bargains. Here, we’ve collected our favorites. And since the best deals are free, we’ve blown out our weekly Sunday Freebie into a giveaway extravaganza, full of prizes! Enter for a chance to win one of them at parade.com/freebie.

Shop the Fall

We asked retail expert Mark Di Vincenzo, author of Buy Shoes On Wednesday And Tweetat 4:00, when to score the best deals on school gear.

August:

Laptops“There is fierce competition to sell laptops to college-age kids now. You’ll find big savings, from rebates to freebies, including printers and software.”

Backpacks“Many stores discount them slightly at the end of summer to attract shoppers.”

September:

Markers, calculators, and more“Hold off on supplies that aren’t on sale in August. By September, stores are eager to get rid of them.”

October:

Denim“Retailers offer post–back-to-school sales in September, and if you wait until October, you’ll see even deeper discounts.”

November:

Sneakers“If you can hold out for a few months, check big-box retailers for sales at the end of the season, when they’re trying to make room for winter boots and shoes.”

CraftingPaper crafting, introductory jewelry making and rainbow loom bracelet making are taught in kids’ classes throughout the week at Michael’s and A.C. Moore. (free to $5; classes.michaels.com and acmoore.com)

OutdoorsBring your aspiring fisherman to Bass Pro Shops’ free Saturday -lessons. The store provides the tackle while the whole family can learn the basics of angling. (free; basspro.com)

SportsGymboree’s no-cost classes help toddlers and preschoolers learn about team building and sports fundamentals involved in hockey, soccer, volleyball, and even golf. (free; gymboreeclasses.com)